ABSTRACT
The most interesting people are those who not only talk well, but who really know what they are talking about. Some museums – especially those concerned with recent history – encourage local people to come to the museum and talk about their own experiences. For example, a gallery devoted to local farming will come alive in a new way if visitors can meet a retired farm worker who will tell them about his or her own experience. The museum should ensure that the information provided by the guide is historically accurate and that they are appropriately briefed on the nature of the audiences with whom they will be talking. North American museums are particularly good at training volunteers to become ‘docents’: museum guides. Training guides effectively is a key responsibility of the museum.
